James Bree

Who was James Bree?

James Bree was a British actor who played many supporting roles in both film and television.

Bree was educated at Radley College near Abingdon, Oxfordshire and during World War II served in the RAF. He later trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. He changed his surname to Thomson-Bree after inheriting land from his great-uncle, Archdeacon William Bree.

He was probably best known for playing Gumbold in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service and for his role as Uncle Arthur in The Jewel in the Crown.

Bree notably played three roles in the classic Doctor Who series. He played the Security Chief in the 1969 Patrick Troughton story The War Games, Nefred in the 1980 Tom Baker story Full Circle and Keeper of the Matrix in the 1986 Colin Baker story The Ultimate Foe.

He died in December 2008, aged 85, after a long illness.